Ndingililo Gaoswediwe
3 November 2009
The police have said Tatitown area is experiencing a rise in stock-theft.
Assistant Superintendent Ontibile Motladile of Tatitown Police Station has said that his beat which includes Jamataka, Mokubilo and Marapong villages have been hit a new wave of stock-theft. He stated that at the moment they are keeping over 100 animals suspected to have been stolen. Tatitown police keep recovered animals at Marapong.
"There are approximately 107 cattle and 90 goats that are kept at Marapong," said Motladile. He said the stock could only be released to the lawful owners.
He added that possession of suspected stolen stock and stealing stock could earn a sentence of not more than five years in prison.
A resident of Jamataka, Godfree Sesinyi said this year has been one the worst in stock-theft in the village. Sesinyi said that thieves have targeted their cattle and goats because they are marketable.
"They kill and skin our cattle in the bush before selling to individuals or butchery owners," he explained.
Sesinyi stated that their animals are not safe even when kept in kraals. Jamataka are angered by the fact that the thieves kill pregnant cows.
A resident at the village, 62-year-old Letsitla Baikuetse said they have never experienced such theft where animals like donkeys are also targeted.
In Jamataka and surrounding areas, donkeys are stolen for meat, ploughing or pulling carts. Baikuetse lamented that there is nowhere to hide their animals. To combat stock-theft, villagers have formed a crime prevention group that normally gives tip-offs to the police if they suspect thieves are about to strike.
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